Family Sharing On Apple simplifies how up to six family members share Apple services and features. From enjoying music, movies, and apps together to managing subscriptions like iCloud+, Family Sharing offers a seamless experience without the need to share individual Apple IDs. It also provides robust parental controls, including setting up Apple Accounts for children, managing screen time, and using Ask to Buy for spending approvals. Let’s explore how to set up and make the most of Family Sharing on your Apple devices.
Setting Up Your Family Group as a Family Organizer
The family organizer, usually an adult, is responsible for setting up Family Sharing. This role manages the group and, if purchase sharing is enabled, pays for family members’ purchases using their designated payment method. Here’s how to get started:
On Your iPhone or iPad
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Begin by opening the Settings app directly on your iPhone or iPad.
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Tap on your name at the top of the Settings menu to access your Apple ID account settings.
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Select Family or Family Sharing.
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Tap Set Up Your Family to initiate the setup process.
iPhone screen showing the steps for setting up Family Sharing.Alt text: Setting up Family Sharing on iPhone: Open Settings, tap on your name, select Family Sharing, and tap Set Up Your Family.
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Follow the step-by-step instructions displayed on your screen to complete the setup and invite your family members to join.
On Your Mac with macOS Ventura or Later
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Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
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Click on your name, then select Family or Family Sharing from the options.
macOS screen showing the steps for setting up Family Sharing.Alt text: Setting up Family Sharing on macOS: Go to System Settings, click on your name, and select Family Sharing to begin setup.
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Click Set Up Family.
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Proceed by following the on-screen prompts to set up your family group and send out invitations.
Inviting Members to Join Your Family Sharing Group
You can invite family members during the initial setup or add them later. Invitations can be sent via Messages, email, or in person. Importantly, if you have multiple Apple IDs, you can invite each to your family group to consolidate and share purchases across your accounts.
On Your iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or Later
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tap on Family.
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Tap Add Member button to start inviting someone to your group.
iPhone screen showing the steps for adding a member to your Family Sharing group.Alt text: Adding a member to Family Sharing on iPhone: In Family Sharing settings, tap the Add Member button to invite new members.
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If you are adding a child who doesn’t have an Apple ID, tap Create an Account for a Child. For family members who already have an Apple ID, select Invite People. They will need to enter their Apple ID password on your device to accept the invitation.
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Continue with the on-screen instructions to configure parental controls, location sharing, and other Family Sharing features as needed.
On Your Mac with macOS Ventura or Later
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Navigate to the Apple menu and open System Settings.
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Click on Family.
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Select Add Member, and then follow the instructions to send your invitation.
macOS screen showing the steps for adding a member to your Family Sharing Group.Alt text: Adding a member to Family Sharing on macOS: In System Settings, under Family settings, click Add Member to invite someone to your family group.
Checking if Your Family Member Accepted the Invitation
After sending an invitation, you can easily check its status to ensure your family members have received and accepted it.
On Your iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and go to Family.
- Tap on the person’s name to view the invitation status.
- If needed, tap Resend Invitation to send the invitation again.
On Your Mac with macOS Ventura or Later
- Go to System Settings from the Apple menu, and click on Family.
- Click on the person’s name to check the status of their invitation.
- If they haven’t accepted, you can select Resend Invitation.
Joining a Family Sharing Group
Receiving an invitation to join a family group is straightforward. You can accept or decline directly from your device through the invitation you receive via email or text message. If you happen to miss the initial invitation, you can still respond through your device settings. Remember, you can only be part of one family group at a time.
On Your iPhone or iPad
- Open the Settings app, and tap on your name.
- Select Invitations.
- To accept, follow the on-screen instructions. You might be prompted to confirm your account details and agree to the features and services set up by the family organizer.
On Your Mac with macOS Ventura or Later
- Go to the Apple menu and open System Settings.
- Click on Family.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to accept the invitation. Similar to joining on iPhone or iPad, you may need to confirm your account information and settings for the family group’s shared features.
Troubleshooting Issues with Accepting an Invitation
If you encounter issues accepting an invitation, ensure that your Apple ID isn’t already part of another family group. You can only switch family groups once per year. If you’re still having trouble, double-check the invitation details or ask the family organizer to resend the invitation.
Family Sharing makes it incredibly convenient for families to stay connected and share Apple’s ecosystem. By following these steps, you can easily set up, manage, and enjoy the numerous benefits of Family Sharing on your Apple devices.
